Outlet-box



Patented July 5, 1921.

jay:

g/ %ww K J. J. RUTLEUGE.

OUTLET BOX.

APPLICATION man APR. 1o, 1919.

WITNESSES UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicr..

JAMES J'. RUTLEDGEE, 0F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

OUTLET-BX.

Specification of Letters Pateiit.`

Application led'April 10, 1919. Serial No. 288,921.

State of Pennsylvania, have inventedl certain new and useful Improvements in Outlet- Boxes, of which the following is a'speciiica` tion.

' of this character having ample facility for.

" My invention consis'tsof an improvement in outlet boxes of the class commonly used4 for the purpose of making electrical distribution by means of conductors leading into and out from thebox, in any desired direction.

rlhe objects in view are to provide a box making the connections in Vany direction, utilizing the usual knock-out apertures Ywhich are normally closed by a comparatively thin piece of metal forming a flush continuation o f the outside of the box, and opened only Where it is desired to make one or more connections. The invention also refers to an improved means for connecting the conductor conduits to the Wall of theV box in an eiiicient, reliable and serviceable Aaway of the box without any connections;

Fig. 2 lis a central longitudinal sectional view through the box, showing a conductor and its conduit connected through one of the knock-out openings at one end;

Fig. 3V is a similar enlarged sectional detail view indicated by the section line III, III of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 4 is a partial sectional interior view in elevation, showing the inner portion of the connecting nipple.

The' box A, which is usually rectangular in shape, as shown, is preferably made of either cast or pressed metal, of any suitable dimensions, and is provided as to its sides, ends and bottom, or either, with a number of comparatively thin integral. closures 2 at the outer Wall portion, outwardly beyond a.

blank opening 3, circular in form and cfa diameter adapted to receive the connecting v flanged nipple 4, after the wall 2 has been severed, as will'be readily understood.

Nierle 4. which .is Provided aroundits conductor wire 8,' which is introduced to the interior of the box, as in Fig. 2.

Nipple e and conduit 6, of the' usual pipe foi-m, are connected together by a threaded union or coupling 5, the inner end of which is preferably screwed up tight against the outer wall face of box A. The inner portion of coupling 5 is annularly recessed, as at l0, providing clearance for the insertion of a coiled spring 11, as clearly shown in Figs] 2 and 3. The purpose of such spring is to act, under compression, to prevent loosening by reverse rotation of the coupling 5 in the manner of a nut lock, so that when the coupling is screwed up tight and the spring l1 is tightlyv compressed, the several parts will be fixedly held in position.

The number of connections made in this manner may be varied, as desired, utilizing many of the openings 3 as are required, the remaining openings being left in their original condition with the outer wall 2 intact, so that the exterior of the box will present continuous, plane surfaces. Additional connections may be made at any time in the same manner as above described.

The advantages cf the invention will be readily understood and appreciated by those familiar with the art, and it provides a simple convenient means for making electrical connections and distribution without the necessity of providing a number of special standard Ydesigns for the various joint distributions vcoinmonly necessary in :beyond the box in any desired direction.

Also, that the invention may be changed or varied in design or construction or in other Patented July 5, 1921.

details by the skilled mechanic, but that all such changes are within the scope of th following claims. Y

What I claim is z- I' l. The combination with an outlet Ybox having a wall provided with continuously flat outer and inner faces and a circulark opening therethrough, of an integral one piece hollow coupling connection extending through the circular opening provided with an inner laterally extending flange engaging the inner flat face of the box around its opening and an outer threaded portion extending through and beyond the opening, a

engagement against the outer face of the box, and a spiral locking spring inserted in said recess bearing by one'end against the shoulder of the recess and by the other end against the flat face of the outer wall'of the box and compressed to its maximumlimit threaded coupling connection in corresponding tight p g engagement with the inner face of the box.

2. In a device of the class described, an

integral one piece hollowcoupling connection adapted to extend through a circular wall opening provided with a laterally extendingiange and an outer threadedl portion, a conduit in alinement with saidv coupling abutting thereagainst and having a threaded connecting terminal, an interiorly sleeve'coupling engaging y the threads of the flanged coupling and of the conduit respectively and having an inner annular shouldered recess extending backwardlyfrom one end providing a comparatively thin contacting end portion lfor tight engagement against a bearing face, and a spiral locking spring inserted in said recess bearing byone endagainst` the shoulder of the recess and adapted to be compressed when the coupling is screwed up 'tight againstV the outer bearing face of a walland to tighten -the'lange of the coupling against. Y

the other side thereof. Y

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

Y JAMES JRUTLEDGE. c 

